BLACKBALL MINING TROUBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2133, 6 March 1908, Page 2

BLACKBALL MINING TROUBLE.

A COMPLETE DEADLOCK. MEN STILL STAND FIRM. Press Association. GREYMOUTH, March 5. There is nothing now to report regarding the strike at Blackball, and there are no negotiations for a settlement in operation. There is a complete deadlock. Air. Lomas has reported to the Minister, and is awaiting‘instructions. Everything is orderly at Blackball. There were no negotiations at Blackball yesterday or to-day. Air. Lomas leaves for Wellington to-day. The union has decided to insist on the half-hour’s crib time.

EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 5. The following resolution was passed at to-night’s meeting of the 'Trades and Labor Council: “That This Council extends its sympathy to the Blackhall Aimers’ Union in standing by the seven members who were discharged from the .Blackball mine without reason, and trust that they will be successful in their efforts, to prevent unionists from being victimised, for giving expression to their political opinions.”

Press Association

WELLINGTON, Alarch £>,

At a meeting of the. Wellington Trades and Labor Council this evenill, g every delegate expressed sympathy with the Blackball strikers, and the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That having heard the employers’ and workers’ views as to the origin of the strike, this Council endorses the action of the Blackball Miners’ Union.” The secretary of the Council was instructed to telegraph to the secretary of the Aliners’ Union asking if the union needed financial assistance. A resolution was also passed expressing the view that unless the Government takes proceedings against the Blackball Company (1) for discrimination, (2) for lock-out, the unions and trades councils of New Zealand should seriously consider ways and .means of bringing about a just administration of the Arbitration Act. S

GOVERNMENT PROCEEDINGS TAKEN. Press Association. GREYMOUTH, Alarch 5. Air. Lomas, of the Labor Department,- has received instructions from the Government to proceed against the Blackball Aliners’ Union for a breach under section 15 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1905. The Arbitration Court will sit in Greymouth as soon as possible, probably Alonday.

CAUSES OF THE STRIKE

Press Association. WELLINGTON, Alarch 5. The “Post” says: “We are informed that the officer sent to Blackball to investigate the industrial conflict there, has now reported that the strike, which has taken place, was in consequence of a resolution of the Aliners’ Union passed at a regular meeting of the union and duly recorded in the minutes. The union has thus, it is alleged, assumed responsibility for the strike, and under section 15 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1905, it is, if proved, made liable in such a case to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds (£100). For payment of this fine, the property of the union (and failing this), each member of the union up to a contribution of £lO is made liable. Proceedings under section 15 have therefore been to-day instituted against the union, on a charge of creating a strike, and an application for a special sitting of the Court at Greymouth has been made as provided by the Act under sub-section 5 of this section. After the Court has fixed the date of the hearing of the proceedings against the union, it may, in its discretion, summon any person it thinks lias been guilty of proposing, aiding, or abetting a. strike. This applies to those really responsible for the strike as ringleaders, if any, and these men, if the case is proved, maybe found guilty and fined as individual offenders under section 15.